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સ્વખક. ]
Nyāya-Kusumānjali
creature been meant for destruction, God would not have created it at all. The very fact that He has created shows that creatures should be helped to grow and should not be destroyed. Even those who identify the soul with the Supreme Soul (Brahman), should follow this doctrine, since, injury to another means injury to one's own self; for, there is no other soul in the universe. Even Christianity says, Love thy neighbour."
C
To understand the meaning of Ahimsa we shall consider what Himsa means. In Tattvarthadhigama Sutra (vii. 7), Himsa is defined as " प्रमत्तयोगात् प्राणव्यपरोपणं हिंसा. " It means that limsa consists in causing injury through carelessness to any of the ten life-principles (Pranas )* of a living being. Thus it is easily seen that whatever injury to the physical or mental principle of life-vitality is caused through the action of passions, is certainly Himsa.
Ahimsa that is explained in the ethical code of the Jainas is perfectly consistent with social and temporal progress of the highest order, with the life of a king, a warrior, a merchant, a factory-owner and a tiller of the soil. Every body in any and every station of life can practise Ahimsa in such a degree and to such an extent as his special circumstances allow. It does not debar the Jainas from taking up arms in defence of justice and righteousness, to pro
*For the explanation of Pranas, the reader is referred to chap. V.
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